Field Development Wells Research Articles

Developments in Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles in 1957

Exploratory drilling activity in the Panhandle District during 1957 surpassed 1956 by 12%. In all, 205 exploratory tests were drilled, of which 70 (34%) were successful. Field development wells declined slightly from 1956 as the success ratio dropped to 91%. Discoveries were predominantly from Pennsylvanian reservoirs, within the Anadarko basin, with 55% of these being completed from the Morrow series. Geophysical activity remained high, with a 10% increase in seismic crew-weeks. Leasing activity continued at a high peak as the Palo Duro basin underwent a large lease play after discovery of Pennsylvanian oil in Oldham County, Texas.

Developments in Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles in 1953

Exploratory drilling activity in the Texas Panhandle declined from the preceding year with 63 exploratory wells drilled in 1953, compared with 73 wells in 1952. Of the 27 new-field wildcats, two resulted in gas-field discoveries. Substantial extensions were made to several fields, with the most notable extensions in the Quinduno field. In the Oklahoma Panhandle the exploratory drilling activities increased from 34 wells in 1952 to 48 wells in 1953. Of 13 new-field wildcats, 5 were completed as discovery wells. In addition there were two successful new-pool wildcats. Field development activities numbered 636 in the Texas Panhandle, and 96% were successful. As to field development wells in the Oklahoma Panhandle, there were 142 wells, and 91% were completed for oil or gas. Oil and gas production declined in the Texas Panhandle in 1953 as compared with 1952. Geophysical activities lessened in the Panhandle areas in 1953 from the previous year. Leasing activity likewise decreased.

Developments in Louisiana Gulf Coast in 1951

Drilling showed a 10.17 per cent decrease under 1950 with 1,007 wells being completed in 1951 as compared with 1,121 wells in 1950. Of the total wells drilled, 334 or 33.17 per cent were classified as exploratory and 673 or 66.83 per cent as field development wells. Successful completion rate of the exploratory wells was 36.53 per cent and of the development wells 75.18 per cent. There were 142 new-field wildcat tests drilled in 1951 which is a 3.52 per cent increase over last year. These new-field wildcats discovered 24 new fields, a success percentage of 16.9 per cent as compared with 13.9 per cent in 1950. Of the 24 new discoveries, 12 were oil, 10 gas condensate, and two gas. Ten of the discoveries were completed in the Miocene, 8 in the Oligocene, 4 in the Eocene, and one each in the Pliocene and Cretaceous. In 1951, there were 192 exploratory tests drilled on producing structures as compared with 135 similar tests in 1950. Of these, there were 90 new-pool wildcats drilled, of which 43 per cent were successful; 16 shallow pool tests, of which 87.5 per cent were successful; 45 deeper pool tests with 84.4 per cent successfully completed, and 41 outposts, of which 17.07 per cent were successfully completed. The most significant addition to reserves was the exploration on and around old producing areas. The Miocene trend contributed the greater part of new reserves. There were several dry exploratory tests which added knowledge of stratigraphy. Seismic activity increased considerably over 1950 with 924 crew months worked compared with 623 the previous year. Gravity meter also showed a marked increase with 166 crew months worked as compared with 90 last year. Production in 1951 reached an all-time high. There were 190,954,994 barrels of oil and condensate produced as compared with 167,427,924 last year. A total of 836,312,570 MCF of gas was produced as compared with 548,608,826 MCF in 1950. It is anticipated that geophysical work and leasing in 1952 will be comparable with that of 1951 and that drilling will show a slight increase.

Developments in Louisiana Gulf Coast in 1950

In 1950, 1,121 wells were drilled in the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Of this number, 270 or 24.09 per cent were classified as exploratory wells, and 851 or 75.91 per cent as field-development wells. Only nine more exploratory wells were drilled in 1950 than in 1949. Of the 270 exploratory wells, 73 or 27.04 per cent were successful. The successful wells in the various categories are as follows. Successful new-field wildcats 19 Successful new-pool wildcats 6 Successful outpost wildcats 45 Successful shallower-pool tests 3 Of the 851 development wells, 673 or 79.08 per cent were successful and 178 were failures. The 1,121 wells reflect a 17.26 per cent increase over the 956 wells drilled in 1949. This figure includes only new holes drilled and does not include work-overs. The 19 new-field discoveries include 13 oil fields and 6 gas fields. These figures include 3 oil fields and 1 gas field completed offshore.

Developments in Louisiana Gulf Coast in 1949

In 1949, 956 wells were drilled in the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Of this number, 261 or 27.3 per cent were classified as exploratory wells and 695 or 72.7 per cent as field development wells. The number of exploratory wells more than doubled those in 1948. Of the 261 exploratory wells, 93 or 35.2 per cent were successful. The number of exploratory wells with their success percentage follows: new-field wildcats 133--26.3 per cent successful; new-pool wildcats 28--50.0 per cent successful; shallow-pool tests 2--50 per cent successful; deeper-pool tests 10--20 per cent successful; outposts 88--46.5 per cent successful. Of the 695 development wells, 528 or 76 per cent were successful and 167 were failures. There was a 19.0 per cent increase in number of wells drilled in 1949 with 956 as compared with 803 in 1948. These figures include only new holes drilled and do not include work-overs in shallower sands. The 35 new-field discoveries include 18 oil fields, 11 condensate fields, and 6 gas fields. Of this number, 13 were completed off shore. Thirty-two of the new-field discoveries were credited to the seismograph, two to subsurface and seismograph, and one unknown. There were several dry holes which added knowledge of stratigraphy. Seismograph operations decreased considerably during the last half of the year with only 2,537 crew weeks reported for the year. Leasing decreased approximately 50 per cent from 1948 with about 1,527,292 acres taken. The most active area was along the Miocene trend. Drilling declined considerably during the summer but became active again during the fall months.

Developments in South Texas in 1949

Development in the South Texas district during 1949 reflected the general conditions of the domestic petroleum industry resulting from excessive imports of oil. All phases of development and production, except for gas production and the by-products of gas, were below the rates established the previous year. The 793 wildcat exploratory wells found 72 new producing areas, and 2 of the discovery wells were dually completed. Of the 1848 field development wells, 1220 were completed as oil producers, 330 as gas wells, and the remaining 20 per cent were abandoned. A net increase of 421 oil wells was noted during the year. The 17,159 oil wells in the district produced 125,238,744 barrels of oil, 44,500,210 barrels less than the amount produced during the previous twelve-month per od. Over 43 per cent of the oil wells in the area were serviced for casinghead gas. The liquids processed from all gas production amounted to 13,804,592 barrels, an increase of 12.3 per cent over condensates recovered during 1948. Gas transmission lines marketed 155 billion cubic feet of gas.

Developments in Cuyama Valley--1950: ABSTRACT

The Cuyama Valley in 1950 continues to be an important area in California for the drilling of both field development wells and wildcats. More than 50,000 barrels of high-gravity oil are now produced daily from the combined fields of Cuyama. The Russell Ranch field, discovered in June, 1948, has reached a state of almost complete development and now produces 21,000 barrels of oil per day from 138 wells. The South Cuyama field, discovered in May, 1949, is incompletely developed and now produces about 29,000 barrels of oil per day from 155 wells. The geology of these proved fields is not reviewed. Thus far in 1950, about 45 wildcat wells have been drilled in the Cuyama-Carrizo area and only the three which resulted in new discoveries in the Morales Canyon area of North Cuyama were successful. This rather low discovery ratio of 1:15 reflects the complexity of the geologic structure and the difficulty of finding new oil in Cuyama Valley. The Superior Oil Company completed Government No. 18-2 in Sec. 2, T. 11 N., R. 28 W., S.B.B. & M., on April 1, 1950, flowing from an undisclosed formation in the interval 5,635-6,125 feet, 500 barrels per day of 37.5° gravity oil, 2.5% cut, through ½-inch bean with 400 pounds pressure and 250 M.c.f. gas. Immediately surrounding this well, one additional pumper has been completed, three dry holes abandoned, and one well is currentl drilling. End_Page 2380------------------------------ On April 25, 1950, the Hancock-Mohawk-Oceanic No. 65-10 well on the Clayton lease in Sec. 10, T. 11 N., R. 28 W., was completed as a new-pool discovery pumping 75 barrels per day of 32.8° gravity oil, 1% cut, from the Morales formation (Pliocene). There are now eleven wells in a proved area of about 120 acres, producing a total of about 800 barrels per day. The limits of the field at the south and east have been established. On August 22, 1950, the Hancock Oil Company made a discovery about 2 3/4 miles northwest of the Superior well in the Hancock-Bishop No. 44-31 well in Sec. 31, T. 32 S., R. 20 E., M.D.B. & M. The well was completed, pumping 226 barrels per day of 36.6° gravity oil, 0.4% cut, 100 pounds casing pressure and 100 M.c.f. gas from a new lower Miocene sand i the interval 5,785-6,020 feet. Three wells are drilling in the area. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2381------------

Recent Developments in Canada: ABSTRACT

Recent oil developments in Canada have been largely restricted to Alberta. Some exploratory work, including drilling, has been carried on in northeastern British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and the Maritime provinces. Geophysical exploration in Alberta has reached an all time high with forty seismographs, nine gravity meters, one magnetometer and a number of core drills and stratigraphic drills operating. This work has been largely concentrated in the Central Plains, although the Southern Plains and foothills are receiving considerable attention. Recent important discoveries, in addition to the Leduc oil field which produces oil from two dolomite zones in the Upper Devonian as well as from a Lower Cretaceous sand, include the Gulf Pincher Creek Mississippia limestone gas and condensate discovery in the southern foothills, and Imperial's Redwater No. 1 well which appears to have found another Devonian oil field thirty miles northeast of Edmonton. Other recent finds include a small Lower Cretaceous sand discovery at Bantry jointly by California Standard and Imperial, several pool extensions in the Lloydminster oil field, a gas discovery in the Cretaceous Peace River sand of the Peace River district of northeastern British Columbia and northwestern Alberta by Pacific Petroleums Limited, and a small heavy oil discovery by Bata Petroleums near the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary eighty miles south of Lloydminster in a Lower Cretaceous sand. One hundred and thirty wells were drilled in Alberta during the first six months of 1948. Using the A.A.P.G. classification, there were 110 completions, 74 of which were field development and 36 exploratory wells. Five field development wells were dry holes. Considering the exploratory wells, 5 outpost wells were successful and 5 were dry holes. Among the new field wildcats, Imperial's Woodbend No. 1, north of Leduc, discovered what is probably a new pool. Of the approximately 165,000,000 acres comprising the Province of Alberta, approximately 41,000,000 acres are currently held under lease or reservation. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2321------------

Developments in Louisiana Gulf Coast in 1947

In 1947, 646 wells of all classifications were drilled in the Louisiana Gulf Coast. Of this number, 166, or 25.7 per cent, were classified as exploratory wells and 480, 9r 74.3 per cent, as field-development wells. Of the 166 exploratory wells, 59, or 35.5 per cent, were successful. Their classification follows. Success Percentage New-Field Wildcats, 73 17.8 New-Pool Wildcats, 39 64.8 Shallower-Pool Tests, 7 85.7 Deeper-Pool Tests, 7 100 Outposts, 40 20 Among the 480 development wells, 395, or 82.3 per cent, were successful and 85 were failures. There was a 10 per cent increase in drilling in 1947, with 646 wells drilled, as compared with 586 in 1946. These figures include only new holes drilled and do not include work-overs that were completed in shallower sands. The 13 new-field discoveries include 7 oil fields, 2 gas-distillate fields and 4 gas fields. Only 2 of these fields, Holmwood, a faulted structure and Ship Shoal-Block 32, a new offshore salt dome, are considered at this stage of development to be of significance. Ten of the new-field discoveries were credited to seismic surveys and 3 to seismic and subsurface. Several dry holes added knowledge of stratigraphy. Two of these failed in attempts to extend regionally westward, the producing Massive Tuscaloosa sand of the Big Island field. One shallow dry hole located a piercement-type salt dome in the Gulf of Mexico. Seismograph operations continued at a steady pace throughout the year with an approximate total of 3,400 crew weeks reported. Most of these operations was along the coastal and offshore Miocene trend. Leasing continued at a high level. Approximately 3,000,000 acres were taken, the majority of which was along the coastal and offshore Miocene trend. Drilling continued at a stepped-up pace with most of it confined to intermediate and deep Miocene horizons. The trend of exploration was definitely along the Miocene belt which has offered, and still offers, unlimited prospective sands and promise of greatest returns.

Developments in Upper Gulf Coast of Texas in 1946

In 1946, 679 wells of all classifications were drilled in the Upper Gulf Coast of Texas. Of this number, 320 were classified as exploratory wells and 350 as field-development wells. Among the exploratory wells, 121 were new-field wildcats, of which 14, or 11.6 per cent, were successful and 107 were failures; 112 were new-pool wildcats, of which 40 or 35.7 per cent, were successful and 72 were failures; 83 were extension wells or outposts. Of this number 39, or 47 per cent, were successful and 44 were failures. Drilling showed a marked decline in 1946, with 679 operations compared with 911 during 1945. The greater part of this decline was in field-development wells, 359 compared with 563 in 1945. Exploratory drilling remained about the same with 316 operations compared with 348 in 1945. New-field discoveries decreased from 26 in 1945 to 14 in 1946, while new sand discoveries in proved fields increased from 72 in 1945 to 80 in 1946. The new-field discovery rate in 1946 was 1 out of 8.6 wildcat wells drilled as compared with 1 out of 5 in 1945. Of the 14 fields discovered in 1946, 6 were gas-condensate producers and 8 were oil fields. The Frio trend led the discovery list with 8 fields, and there were 2 each in the Yegua, Wilcox, and the Edwards of Lower Cretaceous age. Most of the producing areas were localized by reflection seismograph after subsurface studies had indicated their possible presence. The average quality of these fields is not impressive and their effect on production rates and reserves will probably be small. At the end of the year 1 was abandoned and 8 were still in the 1-well stage, and the field showing the greatest development had 6 wells completed. Production in 1946 remained about the same as in 1945, approximately 183,000,000 barrels. Reflection seismograph work showed a decline of 5 per cent in crew weeks as compared with 1945. Gravity exploration showed a decline of 32 per cent as compared with 1945. Leasing activities along the Frio and Yegua-Wilcox trends remained about the same as in the preceding year. A new objective, the Edwards limestone of Lower Cretaceous age, was added to the list of producing formations in 1946. This trend will cover the extreme northern part of the area. Two fields and one new pool, all producing gas and condensate, were discovered.